Concrete mine-tunnel timbering structure



May 16, 1933. P. MOlSSEEFF-MUSPRATT ,706

CONCRETE MINE TUNNEL TIMBERING STRUCTURE Fig. 1.

Filed March 9, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l Inve nkoi", Fig.2 Paul MmsseefF-MuQPra. kt

Horney'.

CONCRETE MINE TUNNEL TIMBERING STRUCTURE Filed March 9, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig 3 Inventor, 4 Paul M0155 em F- Muspra H B W7w4w4 y Attorn eyt May 16, 1933. P. MOlSSEEFF-MUSPRATT 1,909,706

CONCRETE MINE TUNNEL TIMBERING STRUCTURE Filed March 9, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FigQll 22 Irlla' 5:1 i111:- AW

' 28 M-l-Bs X V Fig. 12

Inventor Paul Molsseefiwfuspra it Attorney.

May 16, 1933. P. MOlSSEEFF-MUSPRATT 1,909,706

CONCRETE MINE TUNNEL TIMBEIRING STRUCTURE Filed March 9, 1932 4 Sheets- Sheet 4 Fig.1?

Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics PAUL MOISSEEFF-MUSPRATT, OF KINGSTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FLORENTINE L. SGHOTT, OF KINGSTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONCRETE MINE-TUNNEL TIMBERING STRUCTURE Application filed March 9, 1932. Serial No. 597,693.

The object of this invention is to provide a timbering structure for mine-tunnels 01"" materials of which there can be no shortage and which are of superior strength and not subject to deterioration through exposure to mine air and water, and not subject to maintainance costs. Further objects are to produce a structure of pre-cast and cured concrete props and beams which Wlll befiexible and adjustable, which will distribute loads put upon it by the settling of the tunnel roof or closing together of the tunnel walls, and which can be set in place at 111111].-

mum cost, and which can be used in tunnels which deviate from a right line either in a horizontal direction or in a vertical direction or both. Further objects are to provide tor the necessary yielding and distribution of the strain in the event of severe localized loads.

In the accompanying four sheets of drawings which form a part of this description Figure 1 is a plan View of two sections oi concrete timbering structure which embodies this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 8 is a top view of a cap beam of the structure.

Fig. 4 is a side View of the same.

Fig. 5 is a side view of an intermediate roof beams.

Fig. 6 is a View of the same from underneath.

Fig. 7 is a side View of a spacer beam.

Fig. 8 is a view of the same from underneath.

Fig. 9 is a detail of a prop and showing the manner in which it supports one end of a cap beam.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section near one end of a cap beam on the line X-X of Fig. 11, drawn to a larger scale.

Fig. 11 is a side view of one end of a cap beam.

Fig. 12 is an end view of a spacer beam.

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section through a portion of a spacer beam near one endon the line XIII-XIII of Figs. 12 and 14.

Fig. 14 is a View of the same from under- 50 neath.

Fig. 15 is a side View of a modified form of concrete prop together with part of a cap beam, parts being broken away.

Fig. 16 is a side view of the lower end of a prop with an underlying concrete block shown in section on the line XVI'XVI of Fig. 17 with sealed in wooden blocks.

Fig. 17 is a top View of the concrete block.

Props 20 of pro-cast concrete will be provided of several lengths. These will have convex tops 20a and pin holes in their lower ends. Concrete blocks 21 of different heights with projecting pins will also be provided so that by combining a prop of suitable length and a block of suitable height the required length for any situation can be made up. The props support roof beams consisting of cap beams 22 the ends of which have concave seats 22a in their undersides which rest on the tops of the props. The cap beams from their sides near their ends support spacer beams 23, which are also r001"- beams and the spacer beams midway of their ends from their sides support intermediate roofbeams 24. The roof beams have ball-and-socket connections consisting of hemispherical projections 25 and sockets 26. The projections are covered with sheet steel 27 and are mounted at the ends of bosses 28 at the sides of the cap beams adjoining each end, and also on one side of each spacer beam midway of its ends. The bosses extend above the hemispherical projections and provide lips 29. Steel hook rods 30 are embedded in the beams, protrude from the hemispherical projections and are bent at the ends to form hooks. These rods in the cap beam cross over a longitudinal reinforcing rod 31. For further support they pass through eyes at the ends of ball reinforcing rods 32. The eyes are spot welded to the sheet steel covers of the hemispherical projections.

The sockets are in the lower portions of the ends of the spacer beams and of the intermediate roof beams and are lined with sheet steel 33 the edges of which are flanged over and embedded in the concrete. The ends of these beams above the sockets provide lips 34. Behind the sockets of the intermediate roof beams are loop rods 35 embedded in the concrete near their looped ends and the rods extend longitudinally from one end of the beam to the other for reinforcing. These are spot welded to the socket linings. In the spacer beams, links 36 are set behind the socket linings and spot welded thereto. Pockets 37 are formed in the undersides of the spacer beams and the intermediate roof beams within the loops or links for the entrance of the hooks. The pockets are transversely elongated so that the hooks entering them will not interfere with such adjustment as may be necessary on account of deflection in the direction of the tunnel.

When the timbering structure has been set in place, wooden wedges 38 are fitted and driven between the lips, thereby unifying the structure and providing for the distribution of any strain that may be put upon it. Near the ends of the cap beams are depending lips 39 between which and the props wedges are also inserted to impart rigidity to the structure against side pressures.

A modified form of prop 40 is shown in Fig. 15. It is reinforced with embedded longitudinal steel rods and hoops and has increased thickness midway of the ends in order to serve as a beam in resisting pressure from the side walls.

'A modified form of supporting block l1 to be set under a prop is shown in Figs. 16 and 17. This is cup-shaped of reinforced concrete with sloping inner sides leaving an open space between its sides and the sides of the prop. W'ooden strips 42 are set in the cup under the end of the prop and sealing compound 43 fills the space between the sides of the supporting block and the prop and keeps water from reaching and rotting the wooden strips. in event of severe localized load on a prop these wooden strips are squeezed into pulp which is forced up in the space between the sides of the supporting block and the prop. The load is thereby distributed in part to the other props.

I claim:

1. A mine-tunnel timbering structure comprising concrete roof beams having balland-socket connections consisting of hemispherical projections from the vertical sides of the beams and sockets at the ends of the beams open on the undersides, and props located under the roof beams which have the hemispherical projections.

2. A mine-tunnel timbering structure comprising props, reinforced concrete cap beams supported by the props, and spacer beams between the ends of the cap beams with ball-and-socket connections consisting of hemispherical projections from the vertical sides of the cap beams and sockets at the enils of the spacer beams open on the undersic es.

3. A mine-tunnel timbering structure comprising props, reinforced concrete cap beams supported by the props, spacer beams between the ends of the cap beams, and intermediate reinforced concrete roof beams between the spacer beams, the spacer beams being connected to the cap beams and the intermediate roof beams being connected to the spacer beams by ball-and-socket connections consisting of hemispherical projections from the vertical sides of the cap beams and from the sides of the spacer beams and sockets at the ends of the spacer beams and at the ends of the intermediate roof beams open on the undersides.

4. A mine-tunnel timbering structure comprising props, and reinforced concrete roof beams having ball-and-socket, and hook and loop connections consisting of hemispherical projections from the sides of the beams, hooks protruding from the projections, sockets at the ends of the beams, and loops embedded in the beams behind the sockets.

5. A mine-tunnel timbering structure comprising props, and reinforced concrete roof beams having ball-andsooket and hook and loop connections consisting of hemispherical projections from the sides of the beams, hooks protruding from the projections, sockets at the ends of the beams, loops embedded in the beams behind the sockets, lips above the projections and the sockets, and wedges between the lips.

6. A mine-tunnel timbering structure comprising props with convex tops, reinforced concrete cap beams with concave seats which rest on the tops of the props, and spacer beams between the ends of the cap beams with ball-and-socket connections consisting of hemispherical projections from the vertical sides of the cap beams, and sockets at the ends of the spacer beams open on the undersides.

7. A mine-tunnel timbering structure comprising reinforced concrete roof beams having ball-and-socket and hook and loop connections consisting of hemispherical projections from the sides of the beams, hooks protruding from the projections, sockets at the ends of the beams, loops embedded in the beams behind the sockets, and means for the support of the roof beams which have the hemispherical projections.

PAUL MOISSEEFF-MUSPRATT. 

